A collection of twelve original plays dramatizing songs, folklore, historical events, and larger-than-life characters of the Wild West Gr 6-8--A collection of 12 short plays set west of the Mississippi River during the 1800s, with a few sneaking into the early 1900s. The subtitle is misleading; the vocabulary and number of violent scenes are more appropriate to older audiences. The selections are more complicated than those in Volume I (Smith and Kraus, 1997): there is more use of flashbacks, and some of the topics are darker and more serious. The scripts are filled with songs that lighten the more somber moods (to the extent, unfortunately, of occasionally tinting horrendous historical events with frivolity). Notes are included on the historical background to the plays, and suggestions are given for costuming, creation of sets, and additions that can be made to incorporate the productions into a curriculum. Native American characters are included in good proportion to the representatives of many European cultures. In addition to fictional characters, many historical figures drive the action, among them Mary Fields, Jim Bridger, Jesse James, and Sarah Winnemucca. Schools and youth groups will find these plays to be educational as well as entertaining. The ease of performing them is increased by the simple nature of the costumes and sets and the small number of props needed. Each play has a set diagram, and music is provided for the songs. Darcy Schild, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence, Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc. L. E. McCULLOUGH, PhD is an educator, playwright, composer, and ethnomusicologist whose studies in music and folklore have spanned cultures throughout the world. He is the author of twenty books of plays, monologues, and scenes for Smith and Kraus. L. E. now has 17 titles in print for young actors. Used Book in Good Condition